Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Makes Home Run Derby History, Wins Title Over Randy Arozarena
Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made some Home Run Derby history en route to winning the event on Monday Night at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
Guerrero hit 25 home runs in the final round, the highest ever for a final round, in beating Randy Arozarena. Arozarena hit 23.
Guerrero Jr. won his first round matchup against Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts, 26-11, before beating hometown hero Julio Rodriguez in the semifinals, 21-20.
We'll see if this performance spurs Guerrero Jr. into a big second half of the season for the Blue Jays. He's hitting .274 this year with 13 homers, 58 RBI and four stolen bases.
For his career, he's a .282 hitter with 117 homers and 368 RBI. He's got a .851 OPS.
The Blue Jays will need Guerrero Jr. to get hot if they want to make the playoffs again this season. They are currently 50-41 and in third place in the American League East. They own the final wild card spot right now by one game over the New York Yankees and two over the Boston Red Sox.
Toronto made the playoffs last season but was upset in the wild card round by the Seattle Mariners, who beat them in the best two-out-of-three series in Toronto.
The Jays will open up the second of the season on Friday (July 14) with a home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are currently in a tie for first place in the National League West. They are 52-39 this season.
Jose Berrios is getting the start for Toronto. He was very good in his last start, pitching seven scoreless innings and allowing just one hit in a win over the Chicago White Sox. The Blue Jays are favored at minus-170 according to Fanduel, and the over/under is set at nine.
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